You’re a professional fisherman, former educator, and union construction worker. That is not the usual resume we see for Congress members. How do you feel your background is helping shape your campaign?

I've fished every summer since. I also worked as a union construction worker and spent 25 years in Alaska public schools as a teacher, a principal, and a superintendent. 

I believe that if you work hard you should be able to build a good life, and that the wealthy DC elites need to play by the same rules we do. I’m running for Congress to make billionaires and corporations pay their fair share, so we can lower the cost of healthcare and fuel. These are the issues I’m hearing about from Alaskans all across the state. Alaskans are calling for change.

Public lands and access to them have become even more important topics the last few years, and Alaska is one of the most affected states. What policies would you like to see pass to preserve Alaska’s waters and land?

I grew up subsistence hunting and fishing. I know firsthand that Alaska’s lands and waters are sacred. 

We need to take action to protect our fisheries. Trawlers dumped more than 3 million salmon in wasted bycatch in the last decade. I support strict, low bycatch limits to reduce bycatch now. We also need to hold bad actors accountable: If you can’t meet updated limits or bottom contact regulations, you can’t fish in our waters. No more special treatment for out-of-state industrial trawlers. Everyone plays by the rules.

Alaska is in an energy crisis. A gallon of gas is over $9 a gallon where I’m from. Southcentral Alaska is facing a natural gas shortage. We can’t afford to give up our energy, our land, or our water to the highest bidder. I oppose data centers in Alaska until there is real local support, regulations, and guarantees that Alaskans will be protected. Until we lower costs and ensure our energy supply for the families that call Alaska home, I am not willing to sell our lands off to outside corporations that want to extract from us for their own financial gain.

As a former school district Superintendent, what do you think Congress should do to help improve education?

Growing up in Kokhanok, I had one other student in my class. When we moved to Bristol Bay, a community of about 1,000, I suddenly had 13 classmates. It was a big change! I am the product of a strong public school system built to serve every child in America – whether you’re growing up in a village of 100 people or a city of 8 million.

I also had the privilege of working in education for more than 25 years, as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. I have a lot of ideas about what we can do to improve education – from getting and keeping great teachers in our schools, to building career and technical education programs that set our kids up for success. 

At the end of the day, the headline of my strategy is simple: If we make billionaires and big corporations pay their share like the rest of us, we can invest in our schools.

Why do you think your candidacy as an Independent is attracting so much support?

I’ve worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Alaskans on the back decks of boats, on construction sites, and in classrooms. Not once has someone asked me about my party registration. Alaskans are Alaskans first, not party members first. Alaskans want a representative in Congress who will do right by their families, regardless of party.

I’ve traveled more than 20,000 miles across the state. Whether I’m in Metlakatla or Anchorage or Utqiagvik, I’m hearing the same thing. Alaskans are frustrated with the way things are going. Gas and grocery costs are too high. Healthcare cuts are hitting hard. Billionaires and corporations are getting bigger and bigger tax breaks. And politicians are raking in millions through insider trading. 

Alaskans are tired of having a representative who’s there to serve himself and his billionaire buddies. Alaskans want a representative who’s there working for them, and that’s why I’m running.

You live in what some might call a tiny town, Naknek, population 470. Is there a part of living in such a small community that will help you in Congress and on the national stage?

The people I come from work hard and take care of each other. I’m not running for Congress to grow a stock portfolio or cozy up to corporations or make buddies with billionaires. I’m running for Congress so I can go back to my hometown, look my family and friends and neighbors in the eye, and know that I did right by them and people like them all across our state.

(Photo: Bill Hill, via Bill Hill for Alaskans Facebook)